Nursing Unit Configuration and Its Relationship to Noise and Nurse Walking Behavior: An AIDS/HIV Unit Case Study

The objective of this study was to compare two nursing unit designs in facilities for persons with AIDS. The two dependent variables were noise level and distance walked by nurses. There were two hypotheses. The first was that nursing staff would walk more in the large rectangular units.The second hypothesis was that noise levels would be lower in the more compact radial design because this design would use fewer staff. In addition, because patients are visible from the nursing station, they might be less likely to create noise by using the nurse call system. Although studies have measured noise levels on nursing units, these levels have not been compared for differing unit configurations. If both the hypotheses are supported, radial plans can be presumed more effective in these ways.

The Academy Journal is published by the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH). The Journal is the official publication of the AAH and explores subjects of interest to AIA-AAH members and to others involved in the fields of healthcare architecture, planning, design and construction.